Plans to extend a Pembrokeshire care home with an additional 12 bedrooms have been given the go-ahead by the National Park.

In an application to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Rickeston Care Home Ltd sought permission for a single storey and two-storey extension to provide 12 new bedrooms and ancillary spaces over two phases at Rickeston Mill Nursing Home, Rickeston Bridge.

The care home predominantly cares for the elderly, residents with dementia and offers respite care, a supporting statement said.

An officer report, recommending approval, said: “Rickeston Mill Nursing Home is an established residential care facility located within the rural settlement of Rickeston Bridge, Haverfordwest, within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The site is set within its own landscaped grounds and is surrounded by agricultural land and mature woodland, with access gained from a single-track lane running parallel to the southern boundary.

“The existing building provides residential and respite care for elderly residents, including those with dementia. Planning permission is sought for single-storey and two-storey extensions to the existing care home to provide 12 additional ensuite bedrooms and improved communal and staff facilities.”

It went on to say: “Previous approvals demonstrate the principle of extending the facility, and elements of the proposal fall within the footprint of earlier consents. Natural Resources Wales have confirmed no objection to the proposal. An initial requirement for clarification regarding foul drainage capacity and potential effects on the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC led to the completion of a Habitats Regulations Assessment, which has now been formally finalised and signed off.

“NRW confirmed the LPA’s view that the proposal will not result in adverse effects on the SAC or the adjacent Milford Haven Waterway SSSI. NRW have also reviewed the submitted Flood Consequences Assessment and have no significant flood risk concerns, noting that the proposed mitigation is acceptable in principle.”

The report added: “Evidence from Pembrokeshire County Council’s Social Care Commissioning Team confirms a significant and growing demand for specialist care provision in the county, which carries weight in favour of the development.

“The proposed extensions are of a scale and design that integrate successfully with the existing building and would not result in harm to the character or special qualities of the National Park.”

The application was conditionally approved.